The Lower Zambezi is one of those places we never tire of returning to. Set opposite Zimbabwe’s famous Mana Pools Reserve, the national park follows a broad and beautiful stretch of the Zambezi River, backed by the escarpment and cut through with channels, floodplains and wonderful winterthorn woodland.
The wildlife is excellent, but what really makes the Lower Zambezi special is the sheer volume of it and the way it seems to be woven into the landscape. Elephants are everywhere, often in large herds, moving between the woodland and the river, feeding beneath the trees, gathering at the water or crossing channels in front of you. Buffalo can be seen in impressive numbers, hippo are constantly present along the river, and lion and leopard are both regularly encountered. Wild dogs also move through the area and the birdlife is superb.
There is something about the light here too. Early and late in the day it filters through the winterthorn trees, catching dust, leaves and animals as they move through the woodland, while behind it all the Zambezi escarpment rises in the distance. It gives the park a very distinctive feel and, for us, is a big part of why the Lower Zambezi is so photogenic.
The variety of ways to experience the area adds another dimension. Game drives can take you deep into the woodland and floodplains, while boating gives you a completely different view of the park from the river. You can stop on a sandbank for lunch, spend time watching elephants at the water’s edge, enjoy excellent tiger fishing, or simply drift back towards camp at the end of the day with the escarpment behind you.
For us, the Lower Zambezi is about the combination of wildlife, water, light and landscape. There is always something happening, often on quite a grand scale, but it never feels hurried. It is one of Zambia’s great wildlife areas and a place that always seems to deliver something memorable.
As previously described
